CLEVELAND, Ohio - A new chapter in the Greater Cleveland story is being written at the Cleveland History Center.

On Wednesday, Nov. 29, the new $2.6 million "Cleveland Starts Here" permanent exhibit will open in 35,000 square feet in the University Circle museum. (There will be a private preview Tuesday, Nov. 28.)

"The museum has lacked a coherent narrative that ties it all together. There needs to be a comprehensive history. We can do that with the collection we have," said Western Reserve Historical Society President and CEO Kelly Falcone-Hall when the museum announced its 150th anniversary plan last fall.

"Cleveland Starts Here" provides that comprehensive history. The exhibit, sponsored by the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation and designed with Dennis and Kathy Barrie of Barrie Projects, brings together the History Center's disparate collections of artifacts and cars and fashion and documents and photos into one main narrative to tell the story of Cleveland.

It also brings nearly 1,000 artifacts out of storage for the first time in decades, from a collection of more than 1 million.

"Many of these items will be seen for the first time by people," says Falcone-Hall.

"We've wanted to be able to do this this for years, to be able to really tell the Cleveland story, to enable people to take a deeper dive."

But "Cleveland Starts Here" is not just about promotion, she stresses.

"This is not just about Cleveland in the 1930s, or 1950s, or today. And we never want this to be become a boosterism-type exhibit. We're talking about all sides of Cleveland history, from sports to Tamir Rice to the founders of the city."

The exhibit is divided into sections that trace the city's history in big chunks, such as "1810s: The Land of Milk and Honey," "1901-1909: Governed by the Best Mayor of the Best City in the USA," and "1940s-50s: Best Location in the Nation." The story continues until today, with the inclusion of the Cavs victory parade and the 2016 Republican National Convention.

It begins in 1795 -- before Moses Cleaveland "founded" the city that bears his name.

"We want to make sure people know there were people living in the area before Moses Cleveland landed," says Falcone-Hall.

Each section includes numerous artifacts, maps, a video and interactive "peeks." There are many treasures, like a surveyor's field notebook from 1796, children's clothing from the 1930s and an Abraham Lincoln "life mask" from 1860.

"It's based on the 'Cabinet of Curiosities' concept," says Dennis Barrie. "It's kind of a 'wonder wall,' " he says referring to the main historic timeline that greets visitors.

There some unexpected inclusions, too, such as the DeLorean that greets visitors when the first enter.

"We want this experience to be surprising and unexpected and attention-getting," says Barrie. "There is a true Cleveland connection with the DeLorean."

You'll have to visit to find out what that is.

Perhaps the biggest unveiled treasure is a 1960s NASA lunar descent module made in Cleveland.

There's also a section devoted to famous Clevelanders, from Garrett Morgan to Dr. Oz, Cy Young and Ruby Dee.

"This isn't about my Cleveland, or your Cleveland, but all of our Clevelands," says Falcone-Hall. "We want people to visit and see their story here."

It's a never-ending story.

The format of the exhibit will allow for artifacts to be switched in and out to feature more items in the collection.